Hey all
Just a quick one, but I think we would all get a laugh out of this one....
Why has the police pulled your ambulance over in the past and what did they speak to you about?
I will start this off...
I was returning from a job one night in a supervisors car (a Holden Commodore sedan) when the police pulled me for.... of all things.... impersonating a police officer.
Yes, my company wheres blue shirts.... but my badges are very different.... and my car was a black car with red lights (police have red and blue lights in Australia)
Any way, they pull me up and tell me that it is illegal for me to display red flashing lights on the vehicle (hang on a sec.... it was the police that gave me the authority to do so....) and to wear a blue uniform and that I had been spotted impersonating a police officer....
I asked him if any one had made a complaint, if they had seen me (as I know I had not used lights and sirens at all that day) and they said no. I asked what the prob was, and they said it because I had a blue uniform and lights and that I would be arrested and charged.
I then asked the constable if he was arresting officers of the NSW Ambulance Service (they have red lights), the fire service (they wear blue uniforms) or the local rescue service (who also wear blue). He said no. I then suggested that his partner arrest him for impersonating a police officer (as a joke of course - after all, he was in a police uniform....) and at that point he spotted something shiny on my collar... did I mention that I am a chaplain as well? He had spotted the crosses, and I have never seen anyone leave a scene as quick as this fellow.
The good outcome of this, I did speak to the local police commander, and the constable had just completed training and was not fully sure of the law, so it was an honest mistake.... apologies were passed and our two services get along nicely now...
Just to go on record.... yes I do follow the road rules and laws.
I also heard a story of a highway patrol officer that used to pull ambulances over under lights at 3am on an empty street in a built up residential area and issue a fine for not sounding the siren. So the ambos did this, and every body complained about sirens at 3am, so they stopped and the fines started again.... what a catch 22.
Any way, I look forward to your responses.....
Have a great night / day or sleep if it is your day off....
Tim